Flooded Basement

98% of all homeowners with basements will experience some form of basement flooding at some point in their tenure, making it a virtual certainty.  It is therefore important to know how to deal with it, steps to take to prevent it, and how to clean it up when it does happen.

Usually, removal of excess water is the first step people take when cleaning up a flood damaged home.  No argument.  The sooner a home is dried out, the better off you’ll be.  However, that being said, water must be pumped out of a basement slowly, at a rate of about a foot a day.  The reason?  Because standing water in your basement can put pressure on the walls, releasing that pressure too rapidly could cause them to give way and collapse.

You should never enter a flooded basement without making sure the electricity is off.  Shut it off at the source.  If the water levels are higher than wall mounted power outlets, have the electrical system inspected by a qualified electrician before turning the power back on.

Damp, dark basements are breeding ground for mold.  You should keep the area where you are working well ventilated, and keep an eye out for any evidence of mold, and call a professional to deal with it.  Mold spores can be hazardous to your health if inhaled.

Water that is pumped from your basement should be discharged far away from your home (lest it flow right back in again).  Do not pump water into sewage systems as this could cause the sewage system to back up.

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